How Much For A 80,300 Seat Stadium? Silverdome Auction Nets $583,000

The Pontiac Silverdrome, a 80,300 seat stadium on the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan and previous home to a variety of teams sold at auction this week for $583,000.

The Silverdome Auction was won by an unnamed Canadian company that hopes to maintain it as a sports venue, city officials said. The stadium was costing the city $1.5 million annually in upkeep and had no major anchor tenant to offset costs.

The Pontiac Silverdrome was built in 1975 for an estimated cost of $55.7 million. Sitting on 127 acres (51 ha), it hosted the Detroit Lions of the NFL from 1975–2001, the Detroit Pistons of the NBA from 1978–1988, the Michigan Panthers of the USFL from 1983–1984, the college football Cherry Bowl in 1984 and 1985 and Motor City Bowl from 1997 until 2001, the MHSAA football state finals from 1976–2004, and four first-round games during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

The new owner is reportedly considering using the stadium as a soccer venue.